By Shawn Vacek, Remodelers of Houston

A home addition can be a very valuable remodeling project for your home. If you have a one- or 1-story home and you need extra space, it may be worth considering building up rather than out.

If you have a growing family and too few bedrooms or baths, building up or out are both good options. The size and shape of your property will help you decide if you can build out. If you have a large backyard, a first-floor addition may be a good choice. If not, your choice will be to build up.

If you currently have an attic space with a higher ceiling a dormer or two or partial addition might work to get some additional room. By why stop there? A full second-story addition can double the space that you currently have, to give you extra bedrooms and baths, a luxurious master bedroom suite with walk in closet or any other spaces you desire.

If you are considering adding more space to your home, keep the following in mind.

Your homes foundation

Your contractor with the help of an engineer should determine if your home can support a second story or if you need additional structural support. Most existing foundations can be reinforced to support a second floor pending an engineer evaluation. This can be much more economical than pouring a new foundation. Overall, reinforcing the foundation and building up will add value to your home.

Staircase

Do you have a staircase? If not, it will be necessary to build a new one. One of the more difficult elements is determining the best placement for the staircase. Much thought needs to go into the staircase location based on design for accessibility, flow and balance in the home.

Additional key elements to consider when adding a second story are window style, roofing material and elevation, and exterior facade to create a look that you desire.

Design

Second-floor design work is challenging, so you want to be certain that youre working with someone who has Design-Build experience in second-story additions. A good Design-Build remodeler can take care of drawing up the plans based on understanding what you want the second-story add-on to achieve.

When adding on new space to your home, your remodeler should create a space that flows seamlessly with the homes existing architecture and style. Look for and experienced remodeler that you can trust to get the job done right.

This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting professionalism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certification and service to the Houston community. To reach the author directly, email shawn@remodelersofhouston.com. For information on this article, please contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsulting.net. To join the council or to find a professional remodeler in your area, please visit http://www.ghba.org.

Excerpt from:
GHBA Remodelers Council: Add the space you need by building up - Chron.com

In December 2016, Anastasiia and Gunther, a young Maryland couple, were on the lookout for a restoration project. So when they saw a for-sale sign in front of an old church up the road from their house, they stopped the car and looked inside.

About six months and $320,000 later, it was theirs.

Now the couple and their three children live in the 120-year-old All Saints' Church. While they're actively renovating it, it maintains many of its original details.

What is now called All Saints House was deconsecrated in the 1970s, Anastasiia told Business Insider. Since then, it has seen three separate owners (not including Anastasiia and Gunther) who have added lofts, rooms, skylights, and bathrooms.

The couple said that when they bought the home, it was livable but had sat empty for years and needed some fine-tuning. So they began chipping away at their long list of restoration projects, which they document on Instagram.

So far, completed projects include the stripping of dangerous lead paint from the front door, adding a breakfast bar in the kitchen, redesigning the master bedroom, and renovating the kitchen.

Business Insider caught up with Anastasiia to find out what it's like to live in a house with over a century of history.

Do you have a similar home-renovation story? If you want to share your story, email this reporter at lbrandt@businessinsider.com.

See the original post here:
Family bought 20th-century church for $320,000 and lives in it: Photos - Business Insider

Even with Netflixs recommendation algorithm steadily serving you new movies, new TV shows and original programming tailored to your binging habits, the streaming services firehose of content makes whats coming and going difficult to parse.

Thats why we break down each months additions with a spotlight on what to keep on your radar. Netflixs own new releases category is an info dump. Consider us a picture-in-picture talking head, screaming recommendations at the screen.

Favorite Netflix Originals Sex Education and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina return with new seasons. Meanwhile, Anne With an E gets one last season before its untimely cancellation (fans are still clamoring to save the series). The second part of the Bojack Horseman finale also premieres at the end of the month.

On the franchise end, two out of three Lord of the Rings movies and both Charlie and the Chocolate Factory films come to the platform, along with the most unhinged of Shrek films and the Cinderella story that started it all.

Dracula (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: From the makers of Sherlock, Claes Bang stars as Dracula in this series inspired by Bram Stokers classic novel.

What the Love! with Karan Johar (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Multihyphenate celebrity Karan Johar guides perennially lonely singletons through physical and emotional makeovers to set them up for dating success.

Ghost Stories (Netflix Film)

From Netflix: From the directors of Bombay Talkies and Lust Stories come four new short films taking a twisted turn into the spine-chilling realm of horror.

Good Girls: Season 2

Messiah (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: When CIA officer Eva Geller (Michelle Monaghan) uncovers information about a man (Mehdi Dehbi) gaining international attention through acts of public disruption, she begins an investigation into his origins. As he continues to cultivate followers who allege hes performing miracles, the global media become increasingly beguiled by this charismatic figure. Geller must race to unravel the mystery of whether he really is a divine entity or a deceptive con artist capable of dismantling the worlds geopolitical order. As the story unfolds, multiple perspectives are interwoven including that of an Israeli intelligence officer (Tomer Sisley), a Texas preacher (John Ortiz) and his daughter (Stefania LaVie Owen), a Palestinian refugee (Sayyid El Alami) and the journalist (Jane Adams) who covers the story. The series also stars Melinda Page Hamilton, Wil Traval, Fares Landoulsi, Dermot Mulroney and Beau Bridges.

Created by Michael Petroni (The Book Thief), directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) and Kate Woods (Rectify), and executive produced by Petroni, McTeigue, Andrew Deane (The Double), Mark Burnett and Roma Downey (The Bible Series, Ben Hur), the Netflix original series Messiah is a provocative and suspenseful thriller that explores the power of influence and belief in the social media age.

Nisman: Death of a Prosecutor (Netflix Documentary)

From Netflix: This series follows a prosecutor who investigated the biggest attack against a Jewish community outside Israel since World War II and met a violent and mysterious death.

Spinning Out (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: After choking during an important performance, a competitive skater dealing with family issues and her own inner demons struggles to revive her career.

The Circle (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Welcome to the ultimate popularity contest. To win the cash prize, would you be yourself, a better version of yourself or someone else altogether?

21

A Cinderella Story

Does any movie encapsulate 2004 girlhood more than A Cinderella Story? Before the Cinderella Story movies became a franchise starring other tween idols and heartthrobs like Selena Gomez/Drew Seeley, Lucy Hale/Freddie Stroma, Sofia Carson/Thomas Law, and most recently Laura Marano/Gregg Sulkin) it all began with OGs: Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray.

American BeautyCatch Me If You CanCharlie and the Chocolate FactoryChasing AmyChitty Chitty Bang BangChloeCity of GodDinner for SchmucksDragonheartDragonheart 3: The SorcererDragonheart: A New BeginningDrugs, Inc.: Season 6

Ferris Buellers Day Off

Play hooky and revisit the John Hughes classic.

Free WillyGhost RiderHarold & Kumar Go to White CastleHitchInceptionInstructions Not IncludedJulie & JuliaKate & LeopoldKill Bill: Vol. 1Kill Bill: Vol. 2KingpinKiss the GirlsMonster-in-LawNew York MinutePans LabyrinthPatriot GamesSaint Seiya: Season 4-5Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden

Shrek Forever After

Rewatch the moment the Shrek franchise truly lost it.

Strictly BallroomTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the OozeTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

If youve ever thought to yourself Hmm, Id like to have a Lord of the Rings marathon, but without the first movie, youre in luck this month.

The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of FearThe Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!The Original Kings of ComedyThe RingThe Talented Mr. RipleyTremorsTrue GritUp in the AirWhat Lies BeneathWild Wild WestWilly Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryWyatt EarpYes Man

Sex, Explained: Limited Series (Netflix Documentary)

From Netflix: Attraction. Fantasies. Fertility. Discover the ins and outs of sex in this fun and informative series, narrated by singer-actress Janelle Mone.

Thieves of the Wood (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: In this historical drama series, infamous Flemish highwayman Jan de Lichte becomes a local hero during the Austrian occupation of 18th-century Belgium.

Anne with an E: The Final Season (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: A milestone birthday sparks a search for Annes origin story as she sorts out matters of the heart and starts setting a course for her future.

All the Freckles in the World (Netflix Film)

From Netflix: In Mexico City, a 13-year-old falls for the most beautiful girl in school. With some help from his friends, he will try everything in order to win her heart.

Go! Go! Cory Carson (Netflix Family)

From Netflix: Join kid car Cory Carson on his adventures around the winding roads of childhood in Bumperton Hills! Based on the hit toy line Go! Go! Smart Wheels.

Cheer (Netflix Documentary)

From Netflix: From the team behind Last Chance U, Netflixs documentary series Cheer follows the competitive cheerleaders of Navarro College in Corsicana, TX. Led by Monica Aldama, the small junior college has won 14 National Championships since 2000. The stakes on the mat are high, but for these athletes, the only thing more brutal than their workouts and more exceptional than their performances are the stories of adversity and triumph behind the team members themselves. Over the course of six episodes, viewers will join the Navarro College cheerleaders as they face injuries, sacrifice, personal setbacks and triumphs, all leading up to one nail-biting and adrenaline pumping final competition at the National Championship.

AJ and the Queen (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: RuPaul stars in this outrageous series as a down-on-her-luck drag queen traveling across America in a van with a tough-talking 10-year-old stowaway.

The Evil Dead

Giri / Haji (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Family duty sends a lawman to London to look for his mob-assassin brother as a yakuza war threatens to engulf Tokyo. Trust is even tougher to find.

Harvey Girls Forever!: Season 4 (Netflix Family)

From Netflix: A robot band, a pirate adventure ... and a run-in with a friendly ghost? Just another season on Harvey Street, where every days out of the ordinary.

The Inbestigators: Season 2 (Netflix Family)

From Netflix: Who? When? Where? These school-age sleuths ask smart questions -- and they always solve the case! When crime strikes, call the Inbestigators.

Medical Police (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Two American doctors who discover a deadly virus in Brazil are recruited as government agents in a race to find a cure and uncover a dark conspiracy.

Scissor Seven (Netflix Anime)

From Netflix: With a trusted pair of hairdressing scissors and the ability to disguise himself, Seven offers contract killing on the cheap. The only problem? He often has trouble completing assignments.

Until Dawn (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Frances funniest comics carry out ghastly tasks as they try to outlast and outwit one another while overnighting in famously haunted locations.

Zumbos Just Desserts: Season 2 (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Cohosts Adriano Zumbo and Rachel Khoo return to the Dessert Factory to judge impossible cakes, amazing confections and other fantastic sweets.

Betty White: First Lady of Television

The Healing Powers of Dude (Netflix Family)

From Netflix: When an 11-year-old boy with social anxiety disorder has to start middle school, he finds strength in a lovable comfort mutt named Dude.

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (Netflix Family)

From Netflix: Burrow girl Kipos life turns upside down when she surfaces in a wild world of mutant creatures. Shell need all the help she can get to go home.

The Master

Big Fat Liar

Quien a hierro mata (Netflix Film)

From Netflix: A cartel boss is released from prison and put in the care of nurse Mario (Luis Tosar), who questions his duty and reconnects with his traumatic past.

NiNoKuni (Netflix Anime)

From Netflix: High school colleagues Yuu and Haru travel between the real world and a parallel fantasy universe to help their friend Kotona, whose life is in danger.

Steve Jobs

Ares (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: When her friend suffers a bizarre accident, Rosa realizes the secret student society theyve just joined is built on demonic secrets from Dutch history.

Grace and Frankie: Season 6 (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are two women reinventing their lives in this funny and honest series, now returning for Season 6.

Hip-Hop Evolution: Season 4 (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Season 4 of the music series follows hip-hop in the U.S., showcasing the stories and sounds that shaped its history and culture.

Sex Education: Season 2 (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Sex Education is about Otis Milburn, a socially awkward high school student who lives with his sex therapist mother, Jean. In season 1 Otis and his friend Maeve Wiley set-up a sex clinic at school to capitalise on his intuitive talent for sex advice. In season 2, as a late bloomer Otis must master his newly discovered sexual urges in order to progress with his girlfriend Ola whilst also dealing with his now strained relationship with Maeve. Meanwhile, Moordale Secondary is in the throes of a Chlamydia outbreak, highlighting the need for better sex education at the school and new kids come to town who will challenge the status quo.

Tiny House Nation: Volume 2

Tyler Perrys A Fall from Grace (Netflix Film)

From Netflix: Grace Waters (Crystal Fox), a longtime pillar of her Virginia community, stays composed when her ex weds his mistress and her son moves away. With convincing from her best friend Sarah (Phylicia Rashad), she tries putting herself first, and a handsome stranger (Mehcad Brooks) becomes her surprise second love. Yet any woman can snap, and Graces new husband soon ravages her life, her work and many say her sanity. Shuttered in a cell awaiting trial for his murder, Graces only hope for vindication lies with Jasmine Bryant (Bresha Webb), a public defender who has never tried a case. Co-starring Oscar nominee Cicely Tyson and writer/director Tyler Perry, A Fall From Grace is a mesmerizing thriller built from unthinkable secrets.

Vivir dos veces (Netflix Film)

From Netflix: Emilio searches for the great love of his youth, with the help of his daughter and granddaughter. Will he be able to reconnect with this lost love before his memory fails?

Wer kann, der kann! (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Nailed It! takes its cakes to Germany, where amateurs try to re-create fantastic sweets. Model Angelina Kirsch hosts alongside chef Bernd Siefert.

The Bling Ring

Family Reunion: Part 2 (Netflix Family)

From Netflix: This sitcom about a Seattle family who must readjust to simple living in Georgia returns for its second season.

Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty (Netflix Original)

From Netflix: Southern-born comedian, writer and actress Fortune Feimster is back with her first hour-long Netflix original comedy special, Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty. The comedian recalls her childhood misadventures as a former Girl Scout, debutante and (disqualified) swim meet champion; her familys complicated relationship with Hooters; and how a movie helped her realize she was a lesbian.

Word Party: Season 4 (Netflix Family)

From Netflix: Cue the music: Its time for a party! Join animal babies Franny, Bailey, Kip, Lulu and their new friend, Tilly, for more learning and language fun.

Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak (Netflix Documentary)

From Netflix: The six episode docuseries explores the ways influenza evolves and how prepared humans are or arent for the next devastating global outbreak.

Playing with Fire: Season 1

The Ghost Bride (Netflix Original)

View post:
Every movie and show coming to Netflix in January - Polygon

London's Tube system has grown, and its map is having trouble keeping up. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Its never been easy to design a map of the citys underground transit network. But soon, critics say, legibility concerns will demand a new look.

A familiar tradition played out in Englands capital city last week, as Transport for London (TfL) released a new version of its Tube map. The citys public transportation agency is adding a few stops to the west of London that will ultimately compose Crossrail, or the Elizabeth Linean entirely new rail service that will cut across all of London when it opens in 2021. For now, TfL Rail, a patchwork of soon-to-connect Crossrail segments, will begin serving cities and towns outside of London starting December 15.

As they have in the past, transport critics and map geeks assailed the new map for betraying the design principles of Harry Beck, the draftsman who brought abstraction and clarity to the increasingly tangled Tube map back in 1931. Becks use of straight lines and extremely loose adherence to true geography created the template for the systems current iteration (and many others). But as the complexity of the Underground network has grown, the map has evolved with it, inspiring an an ongoing debate among Londoners who hold passionate beliefs about the Tube and what its supposed to look like.

For those unfamiliar with this saga, be forewarned: Transport typography in London is serious business. TfL has an entire design guide dedicated to the style used across all of their services, and a new typeface upgrade in 2016a re-up of the original Johnston fontwas big news.

But TfL is growing, and the Tube map will have to change in rather significant ways to accommodate it. In the coming decade, the agency is poised to add the Elizabeth Line, adding 10 new stations. Crossrail 2, a proposed north-south rail line, could be under construction by the late 2020s if it finds funding and approval. Then theres a Northern line extension and the possible Bakerloo line extension. And if London Mayor Sadiq Khan has his way, several more suburban rail lines and trams will be absorbed into TfLs system.

All this comes after several other recent additions to the original Tube mapthe London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), and the Jubilee Line Extension, amongst others. The map has made room for more intersecting lines of different shapes and colors, squeezed into fewer and fewer crevices. Some critics say that a radical visual overhaul is needed to preserve usability for visitors and commuters.

Every transport systems goal should be that you dont need to know the city to be able to use the transport, said Jonn Elledge, the editor of The New Statesmans CityMetric site. Thats no longer true for all sorts of reasons in London. It should be usable for all people, and its not performing that crucial function.

Elledge is a patron saint of Tube map criticism; he often writes op-eds calling for change. He finds two major faults with the current Tube map, which he described as a mess. The first is the loss of certain details: Since theres so much new information being added to the map, he explained, it leaves out geographical accuracy. For example, the new Tube map has stops that are outside of Londons fare zones, in cities like Slough and Reading. Those two towns are more than 20 miles apart in real life, but a visitor glancing at the Tube map might be forgiven for thinking that they were in the same general neighborhood.

The second major fault is the overall message, or lack thereof. As TfL has taken over more services, its unclear what theyre trying to communicate, Elledge told me. Some trains come every 3 to 4 minutes; others come maybe every 10 to 15, like the Overground. Theyre not all the same frequency trains.

Then you have the criss-crossing lines of National Rail, which do not make it onto the main Tube maptheyre on a separate and more sprawling Tube and Rail map. But if a traveler knew they existed, they could be very helpful in certain situations. Between Waterloo and Wimbledon, theres a high-speed train that gets you there in 15 minutes. But its not on the map, Elledge said. Instead, the Tube map would suggest to take a roundabout way, via central London. You cant see if youre not familiar with it.

However, TfL has made certain additions that Elledge viewed as steps in the right direction. The dotted line between stations at Camden Town and Camden Road, suggesting that riders can walk to transfer lines, makes the system more approachable, he said, and should be expanded elsewhere. One model to follow, he said, is the Night Tube map, which casts a dark blue hue to show the lines available on weekend nights. That simplicity makes it much more legible, he said.

Still, Elledge recommends essentially starting from scratch. Its really rethinking what the map is for, and what its trying to do, he said. The agency needs to start from a blank sheet of paper.

Transport for London is certainly no stranger to cartographic critiques. In a statement to CityLab, a spokesperson for the agency said that we constantly keep the Tube map under review and I can assure you we are very careful to ensure that the information on the map reflects what customers need to know. To allow for varying digital applications, TfL has also opened up all of its demand and mapping data to app developers.

Of course, with smartphone wayfinding available from Google or CityMapper, the role of a physical map from TfL itself may be diminished. But that doesnt discount its importance, Elledge insists: A transport map truly is a cultural item, he said. You can locate yourself in the city, and its one of the few things that we can all engage with. Thats something unique.

This is not a rhetorical argument for me: As a relative newcomer to London, I often find myself wrestling with the Tube map to find my way around. While reporting this story, I found myself thinking a lot about the role that transport maps play in citieswhat they offer us as riders, and how they change the way we interact with our transport environment.

For one, it has something to do with motility, or our capacity to get aroundas opposed to mobility, or our ability to get around. Motility is a key factor in our individual well-being on public transport, according to research; if someone feels like they lack the capacity to travel on a certain mode, it may affect their willingness to take that mode in the future. A Tube map too complicated or intimidating for someone like me to use will both hurt ridership and fundamentally limit my horizons as a London resident.

Jug Cerovic, a Paris-based Serbian architect who designs maps for a living, is a strong believer in the importance of cartographic legibility. In an incredible side project, hes taken it upon himself to standardize major subway maps from around the world.

The map is the network, Cerovic told me. Above groundwhether in a car, on a bike, or on footyou can go in any direction youd like, he said. But thats not true underground. When you go into a station, you enter into a parallel dimension its a totally different concept of space and time. Without the map, you cant use the system. Its essential.

And how that map appears has implications, he says. In Paris, where he grew up, he had the 1990s Mtro map: That is the way I see the system, when I think of it. But friends of his who moved to the city in the 2000s or thereafter know a different Mtro map, which, in London fashion, added new lines and services. These people have difficulties navigating certain places, and avoid others that appear too cluttered on the map, he said. Because thats the way they see the system.

Cerovic laughed when I asked about London. Only in New York and London do they care so much about their maps. Nowhere else do they care this much. (Hes got a point: Last week, the New York Times recently had an interactive feature on the development of New York Citys subway map. Readers loved it.) He described Londons Tube and Rail map as frightening: I dont want to go there when I see it.

In Cerovics latest version of that same map, he utilized the TfL design style throughout, but the lines are more playful and less overbearing. If [TfL] keeps their current version, itll become a mess. But its possible to make it better, he said. TfL has no excuse not to make a better map. Especially when considering more complex networks, like transit systems in Paris and Tokyo, he argued. If you can map Tokyo, you can map anything.

But Cerovic doesnt discount the massive impact technology has had. It used to be the same map for everyone, he said. Now there are so many different maps. Google Maps, in particular, has become integral to our perception of the city, and its contents. He referenced a statistic that 13 percent of all web searches are on Google Maps, and close to 80 percent of users find information about nearby businesses on it. Its universality in our lives is only growing, he added, with appointments, travel times, and other information available.

But for transportation, digital maps, only tell you one thinghow to get there, he said. It shows the journey from point A to point B. But an analog map allows you to ask questions about your city. Because you might know where point A actually is.

John Surico is a freelance journalist and researcher who covers transit and open space for a number of outlets, including The New York Times and VICE. Hes currently a MSc candidate in Transport and City Planning at University College London.

See the article here:
Why the London Tube Map May Need a New Design - CityLab

This article contains spoilers for Return Of The Jedi and the wider Star Wars series.

After The Empire Strikes Back magnified everything that Star Wars offered, it would be fair to say that Return Of The Jedi faced a tough task tying up the cinematic phenomenon that was the original Star Wars trilogy. And while the 1983 Empire follow-up may not be remembered as fondly as its immediate predecessors, it still manages to offer a fun space drama with plenty of action.

At one point known as Revenge Of The Jedi (and reportedly scheduled to have Luke take Vaders place alongside the Emperor), this instalment was directed by Welshman Richard Marquand. Steven Spielberg was approached, as was David Lynch, who was fresh off of The Elephant Mans Oscar success, but he had next door to zero interest.

A pity for them, really, because the film was a huge financial success grossing somewhere around half a billion dollars from its budget of around $40 million. Critics loved it, too, and despite unfavourable comparisons with Empires darker story, its clear three-act structure clearly won hearts.

Opening with Luke (Mark Hamill) and cos daring rescue of Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Jabba the Hutts decadence is on full display. His palace on Tatooine is packed with sycophants and co-conspirators, marking the ultimate test of Lukes restraint as a Jedi completing his training and thats not even mentioning the Rancor in the basement.

Moving into the desert on Jabbas barge, the Sarlacc sequence remains one of the franchises most enduring set pieces. It offers everything Star Wars does best the comedy of an almost blind Han Solo doing more harm than good, R2-D2 doing his best to support the combat, and Luke swinging his lightsaber in a way that makes him look infinitely more assured than he did in his last battle with Vader. Plus, of course, theres Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) strangling a giant space slug to death something no one is likely to forget in a hurry.

After a brief detour to kill off Yoda (a sequence that still feels a little unnecessary even now, but more on that later), the second act of the movie moves to the forest moon of Endor. Here we find speeder bikes, Ewoks and an Imperial Base that provides a shield for (dun dun dun) a second Death Star. Here, the Rebels team with the indigenous teddy bears (who are surprisingly vicious) and attempt to overpower the superior force while Luke turns himself over to Vader, who takes his son for an audience with the Emperor himself (a deliciously eeeevil Ian McDiarmid).

The third act of Return Of The Jedi is arguably some of the finest sci-fi in history, offering three different planes of action surrounding the second Death Star. In the Emperors Throne Room, Luke refuses to join the Dark Side. On Endor, Leia and Han battle to knock out the shield generator. And in space, the Rebels engage the Imperial Fleet in what is arguably the best space-combat sequence in the franchise so far.

The Emperors full plan is revealed, as the real big bad explains that the Death Star is not only operational, but ready to fire on the assembled fleet. Meanwhile, Vader duels with Luke, suggesting he plans to turn Lukes sister (revealed via Obi-Wans ghost early in the movie to be Leia) to the Dark Side, which sends the Jedi into a rage.

Severing his fathers hand but refusing to kill him, Luke is attacked by the Emperor who is able to zap him with the Force Lightning weve since seen in Revenge Of The Sith. Vader has a change of heart, throwing the Emperor to his death in the depths of the space station, before dying in Lukes arms while the latter tries to rescue him. The Death Star is destroyed (again), and our heroes reunite on Endor as celebrations begin across the galaxy. The end.

Thats a heavily truncated version of events of course, but theres plenty to unpack here. Of course, its worth noting that everyones favourite bounty hunter, Boba Fett, is unceremoniously slain during the battle above the Sarlacc pit. Thankfully, we have The Mandalorian now.

Secondly, Return Of The Jedi gives us a much clearer look at the sagas antagonists. In literal terms, we see Darth Vaders helmet removed to reveal his scarred, pale face. We also finally get to see the Emperor in the flesh, although arguably we find out more about him through the prequel trilogy, which charts his rise to power.

Its a shame to see Yoda, one of Empires best new additions, essentially relegated to simply confirming Lukes fathers identity before he croaks on Dagobah. The Jedi Master is another character thats served well by the prequels (CGI battles aside), but it still feels like his death is solely to place Luke as the last remaining Jedi.

Speaking of Lukes journey to becoming a Jedi Knight, Hamills understated performance in Return Of The Jedi is arguably his best yet. Hes confident, but not overly so, and the contrast between his calm when dealing with Jabba and his cronies versus his stoic nature when interacting with his father and the Emperor shows that hes learned his place in the universe.

In the run-up to The Rise Of Skywalker, rewatching Return Of The Jedi offers up more questions. How did the Emperor survive his fall? What kind of legacy does Vader leave for his grandson, Kylo Ren? Will we see more Ewoks? We cant wait to find out how the latest instalment answers these.

Return Of The Jedi isnt a perfect movie. It sags in the middle, slowed down by a reliance on Endor and a lack of fresh planets to explore, but it offers a fitting culmination to Lukes journey. At the conclusion of the movie, hes beaten his father in combat (albeit having lost his temper somewhat, suggesting hes not as infallible as expected) and finally brought balance to the Force for a while, at least

Best lightsaber bit: As fun as R2-D2 flinging Lukes lightsaber through the air at the Sarlacc pit is, we have to go with the Jedis new green saber clashing with his fathers classic red laser sword in the Death Stars throne room, while the Emperor looks on gleefully.

Best non-lightsaber bit: The Executor-class Star Dreadnought crashing through the Death Star remains a fist-pumping moment, even all these years later.

Jedi wisdom: Search your feelings, father. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate. Lukes appeal to his dads better nature speaks to the conflict within all of us. Basically, be awesome and say no to the dark side.

Rules of the Force: With Anakins redemption leading to him becoming an un-Vader-fied Force Ghost, it turns out that one good deed can make up for being the Galaxys biggest mass-murderer. Vader may have spent much of his life as a Sith, but after killing the Emperor he appears alongside Obi-Wan and Yoda as a benelovent spirit at the movies conclusion (with original actor Sebastian Shaw controversially replaced by Hayden Christensen thanks to George Lucas post-prequel tinkering).

Who has a bad feeling about this? Its a double whammy this time, with both C-3PO and Han Solo both saying the immortal words. Threepio says it when entering Jabbas palace, while Han is similarly dubious when hes about to be roasted by Ewoks alongside Luke and Chewbacca. We cant blame either of them, really.

Galactic stop-offs: A much shorter tour itinerary we revisit Tatooine and Dagobah, but other than that the only fresh locale is the forest moon of Endor, home of the Ewoks.

Who wins? A definitive win for the Rebels here, as the second Death Star has been destroyed, alongside the Emperor and Darth Vader. Lukes the last Jedi, but hes got a sister now (that he kissed passionately just one movie ago, so make of that what you will). Han has been saved, too, so everything is going to work out just fine, right? No more Star Wars, no sir.

You can read all of our Star Wars recaps here.

Are you a fan of Return Of The Jedi? Are there any other aspects of it that you love, any that you didn't, or anything that weve missed? Let us know in the comments below!

Continue reading here:
The Star Wars movies debrief: Return Of The Jedi recap, legacy and best bits - Den of Geek UK

GREENSBORO, N.C. Greensboro police are sending a warning to the public to be on the lookout for porch pirates - people stealing packages from unsuspecting homeowners.

Thieves are swiping deliveries from front porches and mailboxes before the packages reach the rightful owners.

Package theft has been a growing problem in the U.S. for years, especially over the holiday season.

According to a 2017 study from insuranceQuotes, 25.9 million Americans have had a holiday package stolen from their front porch or doorstep - up from 23.5 million porch thefts reported in 2015.

RELATED: 'It Was Just a Brazen Act' | Video Shows Packages Meant As Presents Stolen Off Greensboro Woman's Porch

"During the holidays, certain crimes and home hazards increase. Homeowners need to take precautions and make sure they have the right insurance to protect their finances," said Laura Adams, senior insurance analyst at insuranceQuotes. "You could have packages delivered to your office or a local lockeror use motion detectors, security systems and light timers to fend off thieves."

TheBBBoffers the following tips to outsmart porch pirates over the holiday season:

If you or someone you know has been affected by stolen packages, report it to BBB Scam Tracker to help warn others.

RELATED: Minutes after package dropped off, person seen taking it from Greensboro front porch, homeowner says

RELATED: Porch pirates strike again in Greensboro, homeowner shares video from Ring app

RELATED: 'Because Christmas is magical' | Porch angel takes misdelivered packages to rightful owners

More here:
Tips to outsmart porch pirates over the holiday season - WFMYNews2.com

UTAH PORCHES Its the most wonderful time of the year for porch pirates to steal your packages.

Salt Lake City ranked second-worst in the U.S. this year for porch pirates, according to a study from Safewise.

But porch pirates dont just strike in Salt Lake City.

With that in mind, Provo police released a a fun video last week to educate citizens about how to avoid parcel thieves.

The roughly two-minute video starts off with a sad story. We see a man making a pancake.

Then, tragedy hits. Hes holding a whisk. He is spatula-less.

Cue the flashback (folks, grab your tissues now). It shows our main character shopping online for a spatula a $75 spatula, no less.

Three to five days later, the expensive utensil arrives. But ... it is stolen by a porch pirate before our chef gets it.

Now were back to the present, where we see the man standing with a useless whisk and a burning pancake.

Then, the unimaginable happens.

A Provo police officer rings the doorbell and gives our hero his spatula! Its a Christmas miracle.

We can see the porch pirate in the back of the patrol car and we know justice has been served!

However, in real life, porch pirates are rarely caught which is why its important to try and prevent package theft in the first place.

If the above doesnt work out and you unfortunately end up a victim of package theft, Provo police suggest reaching out to your local post office or the shipping carrier to confirm the package was delivered.

If it was stolen, report it to the police.

The video ends on a happy note, and we see our main character successfully flipping a pancake with his $75 state-of-the-art spatula.

Go here to read the rest:
Have You Seen This? Provo police share funny video about avoiding porch pirates - KSL.com

Boston Police report arresting a Dorchester man on charges he scooped up toys and sneakers awaiting delivery on porches in the area of Rosecliff Terrace and Cliftondale Street in Roslindale early Sunday evening.

Responding officers soon located the suspect and performed a pat frisk which led to the recovery of a Sig Sauer handgun from the suspects waistband which was later determined to be a BB gun. Officers also recovered a stolen pair of sneakers which had been removed from packaging which was addressed to the home on Rosecliff Terrace. Officers continued their investigation and were able to recover several toys which had been removed from their packaging and discarded by the suspect on Cliftondale Street.

Johnatan Cordero-Garcia, 23, was charged with larceny under $1,200 and receiving stolen property, police say.

Innocent, etc.

Link:
Police: Grinch was packing a BB gun when he rifled through packages on people's porches in Roslindale - Universal Hub

A Stanwood woman reported money stolen from her purse after a moving company had delivered and installed furniture in her home on 65th Drive NW.

A Stanwood man, 46, was arrested for restraining order violation in the 26600 block of 72nd AVE NW.

A Stanwood woman, 38, and a Stanwood boy, 13, were referred for assault in the 6800 block of 282nd Place NW.

A Stanwood resident reported her vehicle was stolen in the 26600 block of 72nd Avenue NW.

A Stanwood woman, 38, was required to surrender firearms in relation to a protection order in the 6800 block of 282nd Place NW.

A Stanwood man, 79, was arrested for willfully violating a contact restriction order in the 8800 block of Viking Way NW.

A Stanwood man, 45, was referred for two counts of assault in the 27100 block of 104th Drive NW.

A leaf blower was stolen from a business in the 8800 block of 272nd Street NW.

Ground venison was reported stolen from a freezer in the 7400 block of 272nd Street NW.

A theft occurred in the 26900 block of 92nd Avenue NW; a suspect was trespassed from the business. No charges were filed.

A Stanwood woman, 52, was arrested for assault in the 9700 block of 272nd Place NW.

A burglary occurred in the 26800 block of 90th Avenue NW.

A business in the 27000 block of 102nd Avenue NW reported a battery being stolen out of a work van.

A 15-year-old Camano Island juvenile was referred for possession of drug paraphernalia in the 7400 block of 272nd Street NW.

A business in the 9500 block of 271st Street NW had four company checks forged and cashed.

A 34-year-old Camano Island man was arrested for an outstanding warrant in the 26800 block of Pioneer Highway NW.

A business in the 26900 block 104th DR NW reported an employee-involved theft.

Items were stolen from a jobsite in the 7000 block of 265th Street NW.

A juveniles disturbing Snapchat message was reported in the 7000 block of 272nd Street NW.

Packages were stolen from the porches of several homes in the 6900 block of Church Creek Loop NW. The packages were located and suspects, ages 14 and 15, from Camano Island are being charged with theft and possession of stolen property.

A Stanwood man, 27, was arrested in the 7400 block of 272nd Place NW for an outstanding warrant, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Identity theft was reported in the 9900 block of 272nd Place NW.

A Child Protective Services report was filed in the 27000 block of 72nd Avenue NW.

Items were stolen from a locker in the 7200 block of 267th Street NW. The victim's credit card was used.

In the 8700 block of 272nd Street NW, a mother reported disturbing chat messages between her son and his friends. All juveniles' parents were contacted.

An Arlington male, 21, was arrested for driving while license suspended on Pioneer Highway.

A Stanwood male, 18, was arrested for vehicle prowling and possession of drugs in the 28000 block of 73rd Avenue NW.

A Stanwood male, 15, was arrested for possession of stolen property and making false-misleading statement to public servant.

A Stanwood male, 18, was arrested for vehicle prowling in the 27000 block of 70th Ave NW.

A vehicle prowl was reported in the 7200 block of 267th Street NW.

Police assisted fire with a possible overdose in the 7600 block of 273rd Street NW. Firefighters gave the female NARCAN, she then regained consciousness.

Two vehicle prowls occurred in the 26000 block of 74th Avenue NW.

A vehicle prowl occurred in the 26000 block of 74th Avenue NW.

A male, 34, was trespassed from a property in the 27000 block of 78th Avenue NW.

A vehicle prowl occurred in the 26000 block of 72nd Avenue NW.

Originally posted here:
Stanwood Police reports: Car prowls and porch thefts - goskagit.com

Taking your dog with you everywhere just got a whole lot easier with the new bill that was just passed in Austin. The Texas Senate just passed a bill requiring food establishments to permit dogs on outdoor patios. But additional rules come with this newly passed bill; the first being that dogs must remain on the patio and cannot drink from human glasses. Second, the pets must access the patio directly from the exterior of the establishment. In addition, the establishment must post a sign clearly stating that dogs are permitted in the outdoor area. Also, the dog must be kept controlled on a leash and is not allowed to sit on the chairs or table.

Many areas around Texas including San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Dallas and Houston already have laws similar to this one in place, so it was about time that Austin came around. Unfortunately, there are still other cities in Texas who, either have no law in place or they have what some owners consider heavy fees and inspections from health departments associated with allowing dogs on the property. So, make sure if you are visiting these cities you are aware of their laws so you dont get fined or have your dog impounded.

Since the bill has passed, dog lovers from all over the Austin and Georgetown area are now looking forward to having their lovable pets tag along more often. Just remember to be a responsible pet owner. Know your dogs limits and be respectful to those who may not share your love of dogs. Make sure your dog is well trained and socialized to be around other pets and small children. And remember as you share the city sights with your loyal pet, not to let your dog overheat when walking on hot summer asphalt pavement or lock your loved pet in a car with closed windows. Your responsible behavior will validate Austins decision to allow pups on patios. Thank you Austin!

Originally posted here:
Puppies on Patios in Austin - The Megaphone